fowler



M. D. FOWLER, OF VINCENNES, INDIANA.

Letters Patent No. 81,268, dated August 18, 1868.

IMPROVBD BAT-TRAP.

@te Srliehnls nfemh tu in these Enters atmt mit making part nf tige sans.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Beit known that I, M. D. FOWLER, of Vincennes, in the county of Knox, and Stato of Indiana, have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Rat-Traps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to malte and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming port of this speciiicntion.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved trap, taken through the line y y, fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical crosslseetion ofthe same, taken through the line a: x, fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicato corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish a. simple, convenient, and reliable rat-trap, which shall be so constructed and arranged as to catch, without fail, any animal that may enter the trap and try to eat the bait.

And it consists in the construction and combination of the various parts, as hereinafter more fully described.

A is the bottom of the trap, which is designed to be placed over n. water-reservoir, or somo other suitable and secure receptacle for the rats.

r.lhe central part ofthe bottom A is cut away, forming a rectangular hole, inno which is fitted the drop B. The drop' B, ncar one of its side edges, is pivoted to thc bottom,A, so that when loft irec, the drop B will hang in a vertical position. i

To .the middle part ofthe under side ofthe drop B, at its pivotcd edge, is attechedasemicircnlar segment, C, of a groo'rcd wheel', as shown in iig. 2. To the projecting 'outer edgo of the segment C is nttnched, by o. llexible cord or chain, a weight, D,oi` suiiicient size to slightly overbaloncc the weight of tho drop B, and to bring it again into a. horizontal position whenever it may have been pushed down from that position by any means. To the upper side of the drop B, near its pivoted edge, is attached an arm, E, the upper end of which catches upon' a shoulder, formed upon the pivoted vbar F, so as to lock the drop B in a. horizontal position.

To the upper side of the bottom, A, along its sidel edges, are attached tho side-boards G, which crc connected at their forward ends, :ind nt the forward part of their upper edges, by the wire bars or grating H, so as to enclose the space in which the boit is suspendechfand to prevent the rats from approdching said bait otherwise than by passing over the drop B. One end ofthe catch-lever or 'bcr F is pivoted in a notch in the upper edge of ode ofthe side-boards G, and itsvother end .works in a similar notch in the other side-board, where its play is limited by the set-screw I passing in through the keeper J, attached to thc edge of the said board G, and passing over the said notch, as shown in iig. 1. I

K is an carof corn pivoteil to tho upper part of the side-boards G, by a wire passing throughthc centre of the cob, so that the said ear may revolve so easily that the rat cannot get a kernel o f thc corn.

L is an ear of corn suspended from and pirated to thc sides Gby thc hook-shaped wires M, so that the rat, in seek-ing to get the corn, will push the cur from him. One of the hook-shaped wires M vpasses through 4and extends downnlongrthe outer side ofthe side-board G, and to its lower end is pivoted one end of the connecting- ,wire or rod N, the other end of whichis pivotcd tothe lower end of the bent-lever trigger O, which posses up along the outer side of thc side-board G, through said side-board near its uppcr edge, and horizontally along its inner side, so ns to pass beneath thc lever-catch F, as shown in figs. 1 and 2. By this arrangement the slightest movement ofthe bait L will lift the catch F from the arm E, precipitating the rat into tho receptacle V or. suspended from hooks P, in addition to the corn orother bait suspended in the manner described, und as er beneath. It'dcsireih any other bait attractive to rats may bo used, either suspended in the manner described,

.additional inducement to the rats.

Q are upwardly-projecting arms, attached to the upper side of tho drop- B, along its pivoted edge, which,

vns the drop B falls, strike against tho rzit and force him down into tho receptacle, should he attempt to' sustain himself hy clinging to the trap.

' i I claim as new, and'dcsire to secure by Letters Potent?- The arrangement herein shown and described with relation. to the catch-arm E and lovor-outch F, of the l. crank-shaft M, connection N, and angulailii`ting-lever O, all arranged within tho trap A G H, to operate as I n M. D. kFowLER. mln' Witnesses: v

' Jsisnssv S. Muss,

Hssm' V. Soms.- 

